Developers help build art appreciation
Installations add culture to new condo communities
The next time you see a world-class piece of art in and around Toronto, take a moment to think about how that installation fits into the surrounding community.
Chances are new-home buyers and a builder were behind it.
Many builders make great use of the city’s Percent for Public Art Program as part of Toronto’s development review. The program recommends that a minimum of 1 per cent of the total construction cost of a development — including condos — goes toward public art.
While it’s not a mandatory program, it involves an important negotiation between the city and developers about the community’s needs. However, the agreement is made in the spirit of co-operation and collaboration to add culture, character and distinction to Toronto as BILD members continue to create great neighbourhoods in a wonderful city.
These installations usually range from $400,000 to $1 million, with the odd piece costing up to $2 million. Jane Perdue, public art coordinator for city planning, said last year there were art plans worth $12 million submitted to the city for approval. Many BILD members have taken part in this program, including CanAlfa Group, Concert Properties, Monarch Corporation, Cityzen Development Group and Concord Adex Development to name a few. Gabriel Leung, vice-president of development for Concord Adex, says his company is trying to build a public art legacy around its condo communities, including Concord CityPlace in downtown Toronto and Concord Park Place in North York. He adds that public art must be planned with care since it becomes a focal point in a streetscape or park, or beside buildings. “Concord always tried to do impactful art which suits the surrounding landscape and architecture design, and often these are colourful pieces as the colour adds life and vibrancy to the neighbourhood, particularly in the grey winter months,” Leung said. While he’s reluctant to choose one installation as a favourite, Leung says Canoe Landing Park is very impactful. It was created by Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland at CityPlace. Other examples include Straight Flush, by American James Turrell, at Bay and Adelaide Sts. (by builder Brookfield), and the two light bridges by the Austrian-American Erwin Redl at Vibe Condos in King West Village (Monarch). One of the important goals of public art is to start a conversation, says Karen Mills, founder of Public Art Management. Her company consults on urban-scale public art installations and memorials for governments and private developers.
Each project involves an artist, engineers, fabricators, suppliers and crane operators.
“We’re creating landmarks and we’re really participating in the culture of our time,” Mills said. “It adds to the persona and cultural diversity of the city to make this place a desirable place to live and work.”
Mills’ son, Ben, vice-president of the company, says: “If you look at the sheer volume and the quality of artists, nationally and internationally and the work that has been done since the 1980s, what we’ve been able to achieve in 30 years I think is unprecedented.”
Ben also makes a great point about the funding of these works of art: your hard-earned tax dollars are not funding the installations but rather it’s an agreement between builders and the city.
It’s another initiative of the building and development community to bring culture to a new community. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association and a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Follow him on Twitter @bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta, and bildblogs.ca.
“Colour adds life and vibrancy to the neighbourhood, particularly in the grey winter months.” GABRIEL LEUNG DEVELOPMENT VP AT CONCORD ADEX ABOUT ART IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS